Mail-marking machine.



(Application ma Feb. 5, 1966.)

.. 7 Sheets-*Sheet .I.

v(Nov Model.)

THE Nomus PETERS cla.. Pnofxumo.. WASHINGTON. psc,

' Pafnfed 1an. 7, |962.

E, cHEsHfmEQ- MAIL MARKING vM cums,

(Application mad my. 5, vwoo.)

7 Shana-666er 2;

(No IModel.)

ms persas co.. Pnovoumu., wAsHmG'raN. D. c,

l Pafen'tedl Ian. .7i-190.2'.

cHEjsHlm-a. MAIL 'MARKING MACHINE.

(Appxicion med Feb. 5'. woo.)v

".7 sneets-shqat 4.

(No Model.)

Patented 1an. 7,1962.

-l-z.y cHEsHmE, MAIL MARKING MACHINE. (Applxc t on l d Feb 5 1900) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

i (lilo Mod-6l.)

ls PETERS 00,. Pxcauwo.. wAsHmcmN o c E. cHEsHmE. MAIL MARKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. ,5, 19q0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CI-IEsIlIIRE, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, As'sIGNOR To 'r1-IE WHITE SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

MAIL-MARKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of LettersPatent No. 690,696, dated January '7, 1902.

`iipplicatinn led February 5, 1900. Serial No. 4,089. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD CHESHIRE, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Mail-Marking Machines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

' The object of the invention is to providea machine of a simple and inexpensive character whichshall be capable of rapidly applying postmarks to letters, postal cards, and analogous mail-matter and of 'cancel-ing the stamps thereon, and of finally effecting an orderly rearrangement of the marked letters in an easily-handled pack. In the machine shown embodying my invention a pack of mail-matter, which maybe made up of letters, postal cards, &c'., is placed on edge upon a table, down which it is moved toward the marking and segregating devices.

A pneumatic marking device applies the mark to the `foremost letter in the pack. A bending device takeshold of the lower edge of this letter and bends it away from the pack. The partial segregation of this letter is made complete and permanent by appropriate mechanism, consisting, as shown,.of certain movable iingers which take hold of the bent lower edge of this letter. The. bending device releases its hold upon the letter and moves out of the way, and the letter is then through the movement of said lingers withdrawn from vthe pack and added toa pack of marked letchine and some parts of the supporting-framework broken away, and. a part of the two tables which respectively support theunmarked and marked letters are also broken away. Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the machine, the section being taken in the plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation on the left side of Fig. 3when the two tables have been removed. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan View in the plane indicated by line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are respectively views of certain disks having cams and cam -grooves which operate various parts of the mechanism. Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged views showing the marking device, the bending device, and the segregating device. Fig. 12 is a plan view of a rocking frame which carries the needles. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side view of one of the needles, the block which carries it,

and the end of the arm to which said block is attached. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a part of the pneumatic marking device. Fig. 15 is a vertical section through the intakeopening of the pump. Fig. 16 is a vertical section through the pump on line 16 16of Fig. l. Fig. 17 is a sectional side view of the table. l

The pack of unmarked letters 1 is placed upon a slightly-inclined table 2. The letters rest upside down upon their edges, with their stamped andfaddressed faces presented to the marking device, which is adjacent to the lower end of said table One side of all of said letters bears against a guide-bar 2, andv the` pack of letters is held in 'the compact bunch by means of a follower 2b, which rests against the rearmost letter in the pack and helps to push the entire pack down the table as the letters are removed from the front end of said pack. This follower is a metal block IOO faces said pack and forms a part of the framework which supports the movable mechanism. The upper part of the pack of letters is therefore clamped lightly between this plate 3 and the follower. The lower part of the pack is not so held, and therefore the lower edge of the foremost letter may be bent across the lower edge of said plate 3, away from the other letters. The lower edges of the other letters are prevented from following this bent letter by means of the pins 4, which are periodically projected up through the table. These pins may either pass between the letters or penetrate the lower edge thereof, as the case may be.

The stamp is canceled and the postmark applied to the foremost letter in the pack by means of a pneumatic marking device. This consists, essentially, of a block 5, having a recess 5 in its front face, and a plate 5b, secured to lugs 5c in said recess, which plate carries on its outer face the appropriate marks and characters. This plate is not quite so large as the recess in which it is set, wherefore air may be drawn around its edges into said recess. The block has trunnions 5d on its ends, one of which is tubular and communicates with the recess. The outer end of this tubular trunnion is connected bya flexible pipe 6 with an air-pump 6, by means of which periodically a partial vacuum is created in said recess. rlhis block is mounted, by means of these two trunnions, in the lower ends of two depending arms 7, which are made fast to a rock-shaft 7. An arm 7C is made fast to this rock-shaft., and a push-rod 7d is pivotally connected to this arm. The lower end of this push-rod is forked and straddles the main shaft 10, and on its side it has a pin 7e, which enters a cam-groove 12n in the face of a disk 12, secured to said shaft. During the operation of this machine this shaft is constantly rotating, with the result of moving this push-rod in a substantially endwise direction, which movement causes the arms 7, carrying the marking device, to be rocked, so as to move the marking device toward the package of letters and then away from them. On the rear side of this block 5 is a tail 5G, carrying a friction-roller 5f, which roller is adapted to bear upon a curved track 3b,formed on the rear upright member 3 of the frame. This track has what may be called a notch 3c extendingv downward about midway between its ends. A rod 5g is pivotally connected with the tail of this marking-block, and it passes through a bracket 3, A spring 5h embraces the rod and thrusts endwise against said bracket and a nut on the lower end of the rod. Consequently this spring acts to draw the tail of said printing-block downward and to hold the friction-roller 5f against said track. tVhen, therefore, the block 5 is swung away from the pack of letters, the tail thereof moves down into this notch, whereby the printing-face of the block :is turned upward. A further movement of the rocking frame carries this block so that its printing-face engages with an inking-belt 8. This belt runs over two rollers 8 8" and passes beneath an anvil 8C, which is directly over the part thereof with which the printingplate engages. The belt thereafter is held firmly when the printing-plate is pressed against it and receives therefrom an even supply of ink. One of these rollers is turned step by step by mechanism to be presently described, so that a new part of this belt is constantly presented to the action of the printing-plate. The belt is supplied with ink from an inking-roller 8d, which contacts with it, and this inking-roller is supplied with ink when necessary by means of a supply-roller 8e, mounted on a swinging frame 8f and dipping into the ink, the ink being held in a well 8g, secured to the upper part of the frame members. The operator must occasionally take hold of the arm 8 and cause this swinging frame to rock, so as to carry said supplyroller into contact with the inking-roller, whereby it is supplied with ink, which is in turn supplied to the inking-belt.

After the printing-plate has been inked in the manner described the swinging frame reverses its movement and carries the printingblock toward the unmarked pack of letters. Said printing-block is turned upon its trunnions by means of the described mechanism, and its printing-face is carried close and parallel to the foremost letter in the pack. At this instant the air-pu mp 40 operates to with- .draw air from the recess in said printingblock, wherefore the foremost letteris pressed with sufficient force against the printingplate, and thereby the stamp is canceled and the postmark applied. At approximately the same instant a plurality of needles 9 are moved upward and are caused to penetrate the lower edge of the foremost letter. A valve in the air-pump is then opened and air permitted to rush into the partial vacuum in said printing-block, whereby the letter is released. These needles are secured with their points upward to certain blocks 9,which are beveled on that side of their upper ends which faces the letters. These needles are placed a short distance from this beveled su rface, the distance being less than the thickness of the thinnest piece of mail-matter which the machine is designed to mark-mamely, a postal card. These blocks are pivotally connected to the free ends of' certain arms 13, and springs 9b act to swing said blocks toward the package of letters, although -there are stops 13b that limit the extent of such movement. The arms to which the blocks are pivoted are moved up and down and toward and from the pack of letters by appropriate mechanism, which will be presently described. When the arms are moved upward, the beveled surfaces of this block strike the lower edge of the foremost letter,whereby the blocks are'caused to swing backward in opposition to their springs a greater or less distance, de-

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pending upon the thickness of the letter, wherefore the needles when moved npwill penetrate the lower edge of the postal card or letter, whether it be thick orthin. The blocks and needles are then moved away from the pack of letters by the arms 13, and this causes said foremost letter to bend over the lower edge of the plate 3a, against which the upper part of said letter is held, substantially as shown in Fig. 10. At this instant the lower edge of the letter is grasped between vertically-movable lingers and the needles are moved down and withdrawn from the letter, and then the arms 132i, which carry the blocks and needles, are moved still farther to the left and from beneath said letter. VThe iin gers which have taken hold ofthe letter then move downward,carrying the letter with them,until said letter reaches substantially the level of the table, when the letter is released.A

The described movements of thev needles and the arms which carry them are prod uced in the following manner: Four vof the arms 13a are part of, a frame 13, which is loosely mounted on a rod 14, which extends between and is secured to the lower endsof the arms 14a to form another swingingV frame. The frame 13 has a rearwardly-extended arm 13g, and a pin 13l on said arm enters a cam-groove 31a in the disk 3l, attached to the main shaft 10. This cam-groove causes the said frame 13 to rock upon its pivot, thereby giving to the needles the up-and-down motion. The arms 14 are loosely hung on the axis of a roller 8?, and one of these arms has an extension 14h, with a lateral extended pin 140, which l engages with cam-groove 3lb on the disk 31,

wherefore this frame is rocked, and thus gives the forward-and-backward movement to the frame 13, which carries the `needles. The mechanism `just vdescribed constitutes what I term the bending mechanisme-that is, the mechanism by which the lower edge of the letter is bent away from the restof the pack into, aposition to be grasped by the segregating-ingers. VThese segregatingfingers 15a 15b are carried by a vertically-movable head 15, which is gnided'upon a fixed vertical standard 16. Of each pair of lingers one, 15, is fixed to the head, and one, 15b, is movable. All of the movable fingers are fixed to a rock-shaftc, mounted in said head, and a spring `or springs 15d act to close said mov,- able fingers against the fixedy lingers. An arm 15e is secured to this rock-shaft, however, and it carries a friction-roller lf, which engages with the face of a rocking block 1 7, pivoted'about midway between itsupper and lower ends. Y Thisbloclk has a tail 17 hav:- ing a laterally-extended pin 17), which engages witha cam-groove 30L in the disk 30,

which` is fast to shaft 10.V When the head 15A is near the top of its path of movement,this

block 17isl rocked, with the resultof so rocking the rock-shaft 15 that thefingers are opened.l When the aforesaidl head is about to descend, this block rocks inthe opposite direction far enough to allow the lingers to be closed by their springs. Y When the head is near its lower position, the block again rocks against the roller 15f,wherebyv the rockshaft 15c is' rocked and the fingers are opened. The head 15 goesdown a little farther, leaving the v latter on the table 18, and then this block 17 rocks in the other direction and allows the'fingers to close. The head l5,which carries the segregating-fingers, is connected, by means of links 175g, with the end of an arm 21, the rear end o f which is loosely mounted on the driving-shaft 22. This arm is connected, by means of a link 21, with a crank on the main shaft.

Spring-bars 19, of which four are shown, are fixed at their upper ends, and they extend downward below the level of the table 18, upon which the ,marked letters are to be deposited. Their lower ends are connected by a cross-bar 19a. These bars 19 occnpynormally a substantially vertical position; vbut they are moved outward through slots 18n in the table against the marked letters, so as to cause the pack to be moved along the table, by means of two cams 20, which are pivoted to the fixed framework and are caused to rock into contact with twoof the bars 19, whereby tovcause said movement of all of said springbars by means of links 20through which they are connected with an arm 14h, forming a part of the frame 14. Just before the lowerk edge of the letter which is being moved downward reaches the topof the marked letters these spring-bars 19 are permitted to resume their normal position, whereby the :letter is allowed to be moved down to the position referredto. As soon as the ngers have released this letter these spring-bars are moved forward by the cam, and-thisletter, as well as the others in the marked packare moved so that it -does notin any wiseinterferewith the` upward movement of the segregatingfingers. The marked letters are held in'an' upright position by the sliding block 32,which restsupon the table 18. f `Set in an openingin theplate Sais a movable plate 23,' having downwardlypointed spurs 23a on itsfront face, which are adapted toengage with the foremost letter in the unmarked pack. This platehas an 11p-and.- down movement, and through this movement it acts to move the foremost letter downfu-pon the supporting-table. :The back side ofthis plate rests against the rock-shaft?, which-is' flattened on one side, and its upper end iscon n ected to alink 23b,iwhich is capable-of moving e'ndwise-in suitable guides. This link is connected with an armv24b, attached. to a rockshaft 24. Another arm 24 of thisrock-shaft Ais connected with an endwise-movable rod 24C,

which passes through a bracket 3F,and a spring 24, compressed between thisv bracket anda collar 24? on the rod,l acts to move the rod dow-nward, whereby the rock-shaftis rockedin one direction.

with a pin 24g on-the end of this rod-and A cam 12b-on the disk 12 engages IOO IIO

periodically moves it in the contrary direction, and thus the plate is moved up and down once during each revolution of Ithe shaft. During its upward movement it engages with the fiat side of the rock-shaft 7b, and thereby falls back into the recess in the plate 3n and out of contact with the letter; but when it is moving down this shaft is turned and, acting like a cam on a plate 23, moves it toward and against the letter. One of the rollers 8 over which the inking-belt passes has a ratchet 8k on its outer end, and a pawl 8m engages with this ratchet, which pawl is carried by an upwardly-extended arm 14k of the swinging frame 14. Every timelthis frame 14 is moved backward and forward the inking-roller will be moved forward, thereby moving theinking-belt. Thelongitudinallyoscillating bars 2d, upon which the pack of unmarked letters rests, are caused to oscillate by means of a rock-shaft 33, mounted beneath the table, and arms 33,secured thereto, which enter notches 2g in the bars, and this rock-shaft is caused to rock periodically by means of a link 33", connecting an arm 33c on said rock-shaft with the upper end of the push-rod 7d.

The pins 4, which restrain the lower edges of the letters in the unmarked pack from springing toward the printing-block, are secured to arms 4, which are themselves secured to the rock-shaft 4b, mounted on the under side of the table. An arm 4, secured to this rock-shaft, has a link 4d connected to it, which link is guided so as to move endwise only, and it has a laterally-extended pin 4e, which enters a cam-groove 30b in the disk 30. The machine is provided with means which act automatically to stop the feeding of the letters to the action of the marking and segregating devices in case a letter should not after it is marked be carried down by the segregating-iingers. A rock-shaft 35 is pivoted to the under side of the table 2, and to it are attached a plurality of curved fingers 35, capable of being swung up in front of the foremost letter in the unmarked pack. An arm 35b on this rock shaft is connected by a link 35c with a block 36, having twonotches 36 36, by which it may be hung from the rear end of the table. These notchesare of different depth, as shown, and when the block is hung by the lower notch the rock-shaftis necessarily in such position as to hold said curved lingers downward below the level of the table. lf a letter should accidentally get between the ends of these fingers and the arms which carry the needles, the latter arms will push the letter against these curved fingers,thereby rocking the rock-shaft, and this movement ofthe rock-shaft,transmit ted through the link will push this block rearward until it falls and its upper notch engages with the end of said table. These lin gers are now held in a position which prevents the letters from moving forward to the marking and segregating devices. These fingers are in this position when a pack of unmarked letters is placed upon the table preparatory to the operation of the machine. This block 36 must be drawn rearward and upward until its lower notch engages with the end of the table before the marking and segregating of the letters begin. Secured to the top of the table near its lower end are two sliding bars 37, which serve as extensions of the table, and they also prevent the letters from engaging with said fingers when the fingers are down, as shown in Fig. 3. These bars are pushed back when the fingers are swung up by the pressure of a letter against their ends, but they automatically resume their normal position under the influence of the springs 37 when the pressure upon them is relieved.

The partial vacuum in the recess in the marking-block 5, which causes the letters to be printed, may be produced by a vacuum- 'pump substantially like that which is shown in the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 15 and 16. The pump consists of a cylinder 40, having an intake-opening 40, with which the flexible pipe 6 is connected. The piston 40" of this pump is connected by a connectingrod 40C to a crank on the main shaft. A hole 40 is made vertically through the pistonhead and a vertically-movable valve 40f is provided for closing this hole. The valve is normally closed by the action of a spring 40g. The valve-stem 40h, however, projects some distance below the pistonahead and is in a position where it will be engaged bya toe 4041 on the connecting-rod. In the cylinder are the relief-ports 40k, which are placed below the intake-port 40. When the piston begins its downward movement, the marking-block 5 is being moved forward toward the fore most letter in the unmarked pack,and when said marking-block is close to that letter the piston passes below the intake-opening 40, whereupon air is suddenly drawn out of the recess in the block 5, thereby creating such a partial vacuum therein as causes the letter to be forced against the printing characters. Almost immediately thereafter the piston descends so as to open up the relief-port 40k, whereupon the air rushes into the cylinder. The vacuum is relieved both in the cylinder and in the recess in block 5, and the letter is released. When the crank on the shaft passes the center preparatory to beginning its upward stroke, the toe 40j on the connectingrod strikes the stem of the valve 40g and forces the valve upward, thereby opening a communication between the space above and the space below the piston, so that in moving up it does not compress any air above it. This vacuum-pump is capable of operating in the described manner ro perform the functions just described; but any other means for producing a partial vacuum in the recess in the block 5 and for maintaining that partial vacuum for a sufficient length of time may be substituted for said pump.

Having described my invention, what I ICO IIO

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claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l.' In a mail-marking machine, the combination of a table for supporting a pack of unmarked letters, means for clamping the upper part ofthe unmarked pack, a marking device yfor marking the foremost letter in the pack, Van independent device which takes hold of said foremostletter atits lower edge and bends said edge away from the unmarked pack, and a segregating device which engages with the bent lower edge of said letter, substantially as specified.

2. In a mail-marking machine the. combination of a table for supporting a pack of unmarked letters, means for clamping the upper part of said pack, and means for marking the foremost letter in said pack, with a plurality of needles, means for moving said needles, tirst, upward to cause-them to penetrate the foremost letter in the pack, then from the pack to bend said letter, then down whereby they are Withdrawn from the letter and finally back to the original position, and means for maintaining the separation of said letter from the pack' effected by said needles, substan- `tially as specified.

3. In a mail-marking machine, the combination of a device for bending theforemost letter in the unmarked pack which consists of a rocking frame having arms, and a rocking support upon which said frame is mounted, with blocks pivoted to said arms and having beveled upper ends, needles secured to said blocks opposite the beveled ends thereof", and means for rocking said frame and its support, substantially as specified.

4. In a mail-marking machine a movable arm and block pivoted thereto and having a beveled upper end, a spring which opposes the movement of said block in one direction, and a needle secured to said block in the described relation to the beveled side thereof, and means for moving said arm, substantially as specified.

5. In a mail-marking machine, the combination of a swinging frame, a marking-block pivotally secured thereto, and having a recess in its front side, a marking-plate secured in said recess, means for periodically creating a partial vacuum in said recess, mechanism for swinging said frame, an inking device, means for turning the block upon its supports in said frame whereby the printing-surface is.

presented automatically to the inking device,

, and to the foremost letter in the pack, sub- ,stantially as specified.

with means for turning the block upon its tru nnion while its supporting-fratrie is swinging, whereby the printing-face is presented alternately to the inking deviceand to the letter to be marked, substantially as specified.

7. In a mail-marking machine, the combination of aswinging frame and its operating mechanism, a marking-block pivotallyconnected withsaid swinging frame and having a rearwardly-extended arm, a recess in its front face, and a marking-plate secured in said recess, with means for periodically producing a partial vacuum in said recess, a fixed track with which said -arm engages, means for holding said arm against said track, and an -inking device, substantially as specified.

8. In a mail-marking machine, the combination ofa swinging frame having two depending arms, a pneumatic marking-block pivotally connected with said arms, an arm secured to said marking-block, a fixed track with which said arm is adapted to engage, a link pivotally connected with said arm, and

v-a spring which. acts constantly on said link whereby the arm is against said track, substantially as specified,

9. In a mail-marking machine the combination of a table for supporting a pack of uns,

marked letters, means formar-king the foremost letter in 'the pack, means for bending the lower edge of this letter away from the unmarked pack, anda table for receiving the marked letters, with a vertically -movable head carrying xed and movable fingers, a rock-shaft to which all of said movable fingers are secured, a spring or springs for closing said vfingers, an arm on the rock-shaft, a rocking block adapted to engage with said IOO arm to vopen said fingers and means foroperating said block, substantially as speciied.

10. In a mail-marking machine the combination of a vertically-movable headv having a plurality of fixed fin gers, mechanism for moving said Vhead up and down, a rock-shaft mounted in said head, Jringerscarried thereby, a spring or springs acting to close` said ngers against the fixed iin gers, an arm secured to said rock-shaft, a rocking block engaging with said arm, and means for operating said block, substantially as speci'iied. Y

ll. In a mail-marking machine the combination of a table forsiipporting a pack of unmarked letters, means for marking the foremost letter in the pack and for bending its lower edge away from the pack, a verticallymovable device adapted to graspthe bent letter and segregate it from the unmarked pack, a table upon which said letter is delivered, and mechanism for moving themarked letters along said table, substantially as specified.

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12. In a mail-marking machine, the combinationof mechanism for marking and segregatingletters from an unmarked pack, a table upon which said letters are delivered ,a springframe, a cam which may press said frame against the marked letters, and a pivoted link nation of a table for supporting an unmarked- -edge of the foremost letter in the unmarked connecting said cam with the segregating mechanism, substantially as specified.

13. In a mail-marking machine the combination of a table for supporting a pack of unmarked letters, means for clam ping the upper part of said pack, mechanism for marking the foremost letter and for bending its lower edge away from the pack, with a plurality of pins adapted to be moved up and down through the table into engagement with the lower edge of the unmarked letters thereon behind the foremost letter, substantially as specified.

14. In a inail-marking machine, the combipack of letters, a marking device, and movable needles adapted to penetrate the lower pack and to bend said letter to effect its partial segregation from the pack, and means to force the foremost letter down upon the su pporting-table, substantially as specified.

l5. In a mail-marking machine, a support for a pack of unmarked letters, a marking device, and movableneedles adapted to penefrate the edge of the foremost letter and to bend said letter to effect its pa'rtial segregation from the pack, a plate having spurs which has a reciprocating movement in front of' the foremost letter, and means for causing it to engage with said letterin its movement toward said support, substantially as specified.

16. In a mail-marking machine, means for segregating a marked letter from the nnmarked pack, and automatic means for ar-l resting the marking operation, said automatic arrest being operated by a failure in the segregating mechanism, substantially as specified.

17. In a mail-marking machine, a table supporting an unmarked pack of letters, a rockshaft, means connected therewith for arresting the feed movement of said pack, a crank on said rock-shaft, a rod pivoted thereto, means allowing movement of said rod in one direction but locking it against return, substantially as specified.

18. In a mail-marking m achine,a feed-table, a rock-shaft journaled therein, fingers carried by said rock-shaft, a crank carried by said rock-shaft, a rod pivoted on said crank, a

EDWARD CIIESHIRE.

Witnesses:

E. L. THURs'roN, ALBERT H. BATES. 

